Beekeeper&#39;s veil



Feb. 1, 1931. A. s. wooDM N BEE KEEPERS van;

Filed May 26. 1930 Patented Fella. 10, 1931 ALBERT Gr. 'WGODMAII, F GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN nnnnnnrnns vnrL Application filed May 526, 1930.

This invention relates to a bee kecpcrs veil particularly adapted for use over the head of one working with bees to protect exposed portions of the person, such the face and neck,

from injury due to stings of the bees. De-

vices of this kind are used in working with bees in separating swarms or in hiving a swarm, if it has left a hive, into another hive,

in removing honey and many otherways where close proximity to the bees e d unmediate working among them is to take place.

lhe present invention is directed to a particularly practical and efficient structure of bee heepers veil wherein the face and neck, ordinarily fully ezposed, are completely cov ered without interfering with the vision so that the work among the bees can be readily carried on.

An understanding of the invention may be had from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation illustrating the manner in which the veil is used about the head, and shoulders.

Fig. 2 is a perspective View of the veil on a somewhat enlarged scale, and

Fig. 3 shows the veil folded to a collapsed or inoperative position, in which condition it occupies small space yet at the same time the wire screen parts of the veil are not crushed or bent or otherwise changed. i

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the different figures of the drawing.

In the construction of the veil form sections of a wire mesh screen are used, a front section 1, two side sections 2, and a rear section 3. lhese sections of wire mesh prefer ably are of relatively fine wire with the openings through the veil small enough that it will be impossible for a bee to get past the screen. The sections of wire mesh 1, 2 and 3, in the operative position of the parts as shown in Fi 2, are located so as to form substantially a rectangular body, the section 1 being at the front, section 3, at th rear and the two side sections 2 at the sides. They are connected at their adjacent edges by vertical strips All of fabric which may be bent hack and forth without detriment thereto. Preferably the Serial No. 455,500.

front section 1 is of greater height than the rear section 3 and the side sections, corre spondingly, are of greater height at their front edges than they are at their rear edges.

A top 5 of fabric of light weight and which may be of fairly open mesh, if desired, such as netting or the like, has a substantially central opening 6 tierethrough of substantially circular form, the edges 7 of which are bound to eliminate raveling. The top is connected with the upper edges of sections 1, 2 and 3 of wire screen, as indicated at 8, by a separate binding strip or would be practical to extend the edges of the top 5 over and down, securingthein to the wire sections. it is of course to be understood that in securing the corner strips 4 and the binding strips 8 to the wire screen the same is readily accomplished by sewing through the wire screen mesh.

Depending below the upper structure of the veil thus far described isan apron 9, preferably of the same material used for the top or cover 5; and it is secured to the lower edges of the wire sections 1, 2 and 3, as indicated at 10, by a binding strip or other equivalent connection entirely around the upper wire structure and is open at its lower side. Two spaced apart depending strings 11 are socured at their upper ends at the lower edge portion of the front of the apron 9.

The bee lreepers veil described in use is placed over the head and shoulders of the user, the hat 12 which the user wears extending through the opening at 6 while the apron 9 depends over the shoulders. The strings 11 are carried back underneath. the arms of the user and then through the lower edge portion of the back of the apron, thence back underneath the arms to the front where they may be tightened and tied as shown in Fig. 1. This protects the exposed portions of the head, face and neck of the user against any access thereto by bees.

When not in use the construction may be collapsed readily and then folded into the shape shown in Fig. 3. That is, the two diagonally opposite corners where the front and one side 2 and the back and other side 2 join together, when drawn outwardly and away from each other, brings the remaining diagonally opposite corners together and then the structure may be folded substantially about such last named corners and into the position shown in Fig. 3. This operates to prevent any bending or crushing of the wire screen sections 1, 2 and 3 and at the same time the veil is made to occupy a very small space compared to what it occupies when in its operative position, as shown in The construction described is particularly practical and serviceable in use and when not in use may be collapsed and folded and put away without injury. The construction has proved exceptionally satisfactory in use. The appended claims define the invention which is to be considered comprehensive of all forms of structure coming witl in the scope of said claims.

I claim:

1. A bee keepers veil comprising, a plurality of vertically disposed sect-ions of wire screen, means for flexibl connecting said sections of screen at adjacent vertical edges thereof to provide a cello. sible enclosure, a flexible top of fabric connected to the upper edges of said wire screen sections, and a depending apron of fabric connected to the lower edges thereof.

2. A construction containing the elements in combination defined in claim 1, said top having an opening therein, substantially as and for the purposes described.

3. A bee keepers veil comprising, a front section, a rear section and two side sections of wire screen adapted to be located vertically and disposed to form a substantially rectangular enclosure, a vertical corner piece of fabric secured to said wire sections at each corner of the enclosure, a fabric top connected to and extending between the upper edges of said screen sections, and an apron of fabric connected to and depending from the lower edges of said screen sections, whereby the structure may be collapsed and folded into small compass without crushing or kinking the wire screen sections.

4. A construction containing the elements -in combination defined in claim 8, said top having a substantially centrally disposed circular opening therethrough, and strings attached at their upper ends to and extending downwardly from the lower ed e portion of the front of said apron.

5. A bee keepers veil comprising, a front section of wire screen of rectangular outline, a rear rectangular section of wire screen of less height than the front section adapted to be spaced from and located substantially parallel to the front section, side s ctions of wire screen adapted to be spaced apart and located between the end edge portions of said front and rear sections, vertical flexible connecting members secured to the ends of said wire sections at their adjacent edges ALBERT G. WVOODMAN. 

